Hydrangea arborescens plant named &#39;PIIHA-I&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea arborescens  plant named ‘PIIHA-I’, characterized by its magenta to pink mophead inflorescences; dark green foliage; and upright, spreading growth habit.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Hydrangea arborescens L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PIIHA-I’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea arborescens, a member of the Hydrangeaceae family, hereinafterreferred to by its cultivar name ‘PIIHA-I’.

This cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental for landscape use. Thecultivar originated as an open-pollinated seedling from a numberedselection, WF-03-03-01-07 (unpatented), of Hydrangea arborescens in acontrolled breeding program to develop a pink mophead Hydrangeaarborescens at Watkinsville, Ga. WF-03-03-01-07 is a seedling ofHydrangea arborescens that was derived from the cultivar ‘Wesser Falls’(unpatented).

‘PIIHA-I’ has been asexually reproduced by softwood cuttings inWatkinsville, Ga. The characteristics of the cultivar have been stableand reproduced true-to-type in successive vegetative generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PIIHA-I’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with changes in light,temperature, soil and rainfall without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent theunique characteristics of the new cultivar. In combination thesecharacteristics distinguish ‘PIIHA-I’ from all other varieties incommerce known to the inventor. 1) Magenta to pink mopheadinflorescences that hold the color for about 5 weeks. 2) Dark greenfoliage. 3) Upright, spreading growth habit.

‘PIIHA-I’ is distinguished from its female parent WF-03-03-01-07 by itsmophead inflorescence, flower color, and foliage color. The male orpollen parent is unknown, but is one of several Hydrangea arborescens inthe breeding program, all of which are unpatented. ‘PIIHA-I’ has magentato pink mophead inflorescences, whereas WF-03-03-01-07 has pale pink towhite lacecap inflorescences. ‘PIIHA-I’ also has darker green leavesthan WF-03-03-01-07.

There are no other pink mophead cultivars of Hydrangea arborescens knownto the inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying illustrations show characteristics of the new cultivarin photographs as true to color as is reasonably possible to make inillustrations of this nature. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea.

FIG. 1 shows a mature inflorescence on ‘PIIHA-I’ in summer.

FIG. 2 shows a comparison of ‘PIIHA-I’ (second from left) to otherseedlings from the same open-pollination.

FIG. 3 shows mature foliage in summer on ‘PIIHA-I’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thedescription were grown in 11.8 L containers under 50% shade underoutdoor conditions at Watkinsville, Ga. Colors are described using TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   Botanical classification: ‘PIIHA-I’ is a cultivar of Hydrangea    arborescens.-   Parentage: The current variety is an open-pollinated progeny from a    numbered selection of Hydrangea arborescens, WF-03-03-01-07    (unpatented).-   Propagation: Vegetatively by stem cuttings.-   Plant description: The claimed variety is an upright, spreading    deciduous shrub. Freely branching. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones    3 to 9.    -   -   Plant height.—about 90 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—about 90 cm. Side shoots range in length            from about 15 to 30 cm.        -   Stems.—First year stems have a diameter of about 7 mm, a            round shape.        -   Pubescence.—very fine.        -   Stem color.—close to 146C with some areas close to 181B.        -   Exfoliation.—on first year stems once mature, flaky and            stringy. Second year stems have a diameter of about 1 cm and            color close to 199B.        -   Internode length.—about 6 cm.        -   Vegetative buds.—Arrangement: opposite.        -   Shape.—ovoid.        -   Size.—about 3 mm in length and about 1 mm in width.        -   Color.—close to 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—opposite, simple.        -   Size.—about 13.2 cm in length and about 9.6 cm in width.        -   Shape.—ovate, with acuminate apex, rounded or cordate base,            and serrate margin.        -   Texture.—papery, soft above, rough below.        -   Color.—emerging leaves are close to 144C on the upper and            lower surfaces; mature leaves on the upper surface are close            to 147A, and close to 147C on the lower surface. Fall leaves            develop a range of yellow colors.        -   Venation.—pinnate, veins are impressed into leaves and close            to 146C.        -   Petiole size and shape.—about 6.7 cm in length and about 2            mm in diameter, rounded, grooved, glabrous.        -   Petiole color.—close to 181A above and 144A below.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Inflorescence is a corymb            (mophead) about 12.5 cm in diameter and about 8 cm high. An            inflorescence contains about 300 individual sterile florets            and about 75 individual fertile flowers.        -   Inflorescence bloom period.—Summer. The inflorescence is            effective for about 5 weeks.        -   Flower bud length.—about 2 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—about 2 mm.        -   Flower bud shape.—round.        -   Color.—close to 58A.        -   Peduncle.—about 1 cm in length, finely pubescent, and color            is close to 181B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Arrangement/appearance.—sterile florets contain 3 to 5            (usually 4) sepals per floret.        -   Sepal length.—about 7 mm.        -   Sepal width.—about 5 mm.        -   Sepal shape and texture.—elliptical with acute apex, cuneate            base, and entire margin.        -   Texture.—smooth with no pubescence.        -   Sepal color.—upper surface is close to 58A and the lower            surface is close to 63A at peak flowering.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement/appearance.—fertile flowers have 5 petals per            flower.        -   Petal length.—about 3 mm.        -   Petal width.—about 2 mm.        -   Petal shape and texture.—elliptical, with acute apex,            cuneate base, and entire margin.        -   Texture.—smooth with no pubescence.        -   Petal color.—at peak of bloom the upper surface of the            petals is close to 58A and the lower surface is close to            63A.-   Stamens:    -   -   Quantity.—usually 10 per flower.        -   Anthers.—about 1 mm in length and about 1 mm in width, close            to 65D.        -   Filaments.—about 3 mm in length and about 0.5 mm in width,            close to N155B.        -   Pollen.—close to N155B.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity/arrangement.—1 per flower, superior.        -   Pistil length.—about 2 mm.        -   Pistil width.—about 1 mm.        -   Pistil color.—close to N155B.        -   Stigma.—usually 2 per pistil, round in shape and close to            N155B.        -   Style.—about 2 mm in length, tubular in shape, close to            N155B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type and shape.—the capsule fruit is ovoid.        -   Length.—about 3 mm.        -   Width.—about 2 mm.        -   Color.—during early ripening is close to 146D and at            maturity is close to 200D.        -   Quantity.—about 75 per infructescence.        -   Seeds.—round, about 0.5 mm in length and about 0.5 mm in            width, close to 199B, and each capsule contains about 50            seeds.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the claimed Hydrangea cultivar    grown in the garden have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens    and pests common to Hydrangea.

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea arborescens plant named ‘PIIHA-I’, asillustrated and described herein.